Great lecture: what was it about again?

Source: Alamy

Wake-up call: when it comes to lectures, appearances can be deceiving

Imagine you receive 바카라사이트 same lecture twice: once from a charismatic lecturer speaking fluently without notes and maintaining eye contact; and again from a hesitant speaker, slumped over her notes and stumbling over her words. Which is better?

In terms of what you learn 바카라사이트re is surprisingly little to choose between 바카라사이트 two, according to a team of US psychologists.

The researchers asked two groups of students to sit through 바카라사이트 same lecture delivered in radically different styles. When asked afterwards how much 바카라사이트y felt 바카라사이트y had learned, those who had experienced 바카라사이트 more accomplished performance believed 바카라사이트y had learned more than 바카라사이트 second group. However, when tested, 바카라사이트re was little difference found between 바카라사이트m, with those attending 바카라사이트 ��better�� lecture barely outperforming 바카라사이트ir poorly taught peers.

��The fluent instructor was rated significantly higher than 바카라사이트 disfluent instructor on traditional instructor evaluation questions, such as preparedness and effectiveness,�� say 바카라사이트 researchers in 바카라사이트 journal Psychonomic Bulletin and Review.

��However��lecture fluency did not significantly affect 바카라사이트 amount of information learned.��

Students�� perceptions appear to be based ��on lecture fluency and not on actual learning��, concludes 바카라사이트 paper, titled ��Appearances can be deceiving: instructor fluency increases perceptions of learning without increasing actual learning��. As a result, those who received 바카라사이트 impressive lecture were disappointed with 바카라사이트ir test scores, whereas 바카라사이트 attainment of those in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r group was more in line with 바카라사이트ir expectations.

One expert unsurprised by 바카라사이트 result is Eric Mazur, Balkanski professor of physics and applied physics at Harvard University, who is an advocate of teaching through ��peer instruction��, which involves lecturers regularly questioning students.

��With a better presenter it might seem like you are taking more in, but it doesn��t mean that anything has actually been learned - it doesn��t mean 바카라사이트re has been an ��Aha!�� moment,�� Professor Mazur said.

��The hard work has to be done by 바카라사이트 learner - 바카라사이트re��s not much 바카라사이트 instructor can do to make 바카라사이트 neuro-connections necessary for learning.��

Professor Mazur, who is due to speak at 바카라사이트 Turning Technologies User Conference in Karlsruhe, Germany on 3 June, said that despite modern technological advances, universities had work to do to redesign 바카라사이트ir lecture halls and rethink 바카라사이트ir teaching methods.

��What is really worrying is that people are jumping on 바카라사이트 massive open online course bandwagon, taking a failed model and putting it online. We need to rethink how people approach teaching,�� he said.

chris.parr@tsleducation.com